EXCUSE ME?? by ST

Do people actually pay attention? Does the word oblivious register? Did all those lemmings really follow their idiot leaders off a cliff? I'm saying no, no and yes. Have been listening to lot's of NFL talk and it's amazing how many people are talking about the Detroit Lions and the playoffs. Yes, for certain, cue up Jim Mora! It's the Freaking Lions. The Lions! Name another franchise who incites laughter aside from maybe the LA Clippers of the NBA like these clowns. Whoops, they did have a winning record as recently as 2000. Their last playoff victory was 20 years ago. The first Bush was still in the White House. I get that the NFL is the turnaround league and with the salary cap, the lockout and other factors, the odd can become routine. But Detroit? Matt Stafford missed 13 games last year. The year before as a rookie a mere 6. Guy is made of balsa wood until proven otherwise. Lot of assuming going on for those supporting the Motowners. Whoops, I did forget they're 3 & 0 in the exhibition season because that has true meaning. Stafford was even talking crap after beating the Patriots over the weekend. He says they're not making mistakes. Dude! Your franchise is a mistake. I'm thinking they're 1 & 3 before they host the Bears on October 10th. Now I'm actually rooting against them.
Tiger Woods used to dictate policy. When's he teeing off? Whose he playing with? Is he even playing in this tournament? Now in the wake of his personal plummet he'll play the Frys.com Open a bit south of his old stomping grounds at Stanford in early October. He's gotta get out there for sure and I'd be the first to applaud this decision, but it just goes to show where he is as we speak.
It's game week. It's a beautiful thing. Love this time of year!

Football News, by Casey Mitchell

With the NFL regular season approaching, all eyes are on Peyton Manning and his neck injury. As most of you know, this off season, Peyton had his second neck surgery in two years. This year it isn't recovering as well as 2010. He is yet to play in a preseason game so far while last year he played in 3 of the 4 games. Having uncertainty about who will be the Colts starter in Week 1, with the youngster Curtis Painter not being able to produce, Indianapolis picked up veteran quarterback Kerry Collins. Collins retired during the off season but came out of retirement to be a potential backup to one of the best QBs in the league. Other veteran quarterbacks who were being considered by the Colts were Jake Delhomme and Marc Bulger Manning's streak of 227 consecutive starts, which is the 2nd longest streak in history, is in serious jeopardy. In his 12 year career he has never missed a start. The two time Pro-Bowler, Collins, isn't expected to carry the team to the playoffs. He just needs to manage a couple of games and keep the Colts focused until Manning comes back who I personally think is going to be the starter in Week 1 against the Texans in Houston. As all football fans know, Peyton Manning is a great quarterback whether you like him or not, and it would be a big loss to the Colts if he has to sit out for a couple of weeks.

LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson is under serious investigation involving a bar fight that injured for people. The reason this is becoming such a big deal in Oregon is because the Ducks play the Tigers in just a little over a week for the season opener. I know Duck fans have mixed emotions about who they want to play against, whether it's their best team (with Jordan Jefferson at QB) so we can prove to the nation that we're back or if we want a weaker LSU offense for an easier win. All I know is that if they are missing their star offensive player or not, we are still missing Cliff Harris, and that is still a big deal any way you slice it. One of the biggest College Football games this season could be tainted by bad choices of student athletes making stupid decisions.

SO IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE MONEY? by ST

Just finished a piece online about Angel's ace Jered Weaver signing a 5 year, 85 million dollar contract extension. He'd be a free agent after next season(2012). He's one of the games elite starters. Lead the AL in strikeouts last year and has the top ERA in the league thus far in 2011. He earned a total of about 1.2 mil his first 3 seasons in the majors after the Angels made him the 12th overall selection of the 2004 draft. In 2010 he pulled in about 4.3 million which got bumped to 7.4 million. He went against the advice of his agent Scott Boras who felt in the open market he might command somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 million bucks. Gotta love Weaver's reply. "If 85 million is not enough to take care of my family and other generations of families, then I'm pretty stupid, but how much money to you really need in life?". Reminds me of what Charlie Sheen's character asked Gordon Gecco in "Wall Street". Along the lines of how many yachts can you waterski behind?? Good stuff.
Are we really still talking about Tim Tebow and his spot in the Denver quarterback rotation? Since when do we give this much coverage to a 3rd stringer? We are aware that "other" quarterbacks have had to sit or not get a chance to play because their coaches felt another player was more capable and gave his club a better chance to win? What a crock!
You don't have to be Knute Rockne to get that if Peyton Manning is out for any period of time the Colts are dead, the NFL's version of a lottery team. Though I stand corrected because they did sign Kerry Collins as a back-up. Question? What the heck has Indy been doing the past decade? You really go into a season with so little faith in your QB depth chart you have to go for a retired player the minute the status of your starter is in doubt? Gotta fill Curtis Painter of Purdue, Dan Orlovsky(UConn) and Mike Hartline(undrafted fr Kentucky) with loads of confidence. Very odd situation for a very successful franchise.

A Week in Sports, by Casey Mitchell

Preseason Rankings

In the latest college football rankings Oregon is ranked 3rd, only behind the Oklahoma Sooners and Alabama. We are in good position for a shot at the Natty but a few things will have to go our way. Oklahoma faces two top 25 teams in weeks 2 and 3 against #6 Florida State and #21 Missouri and Alabama is in the best conference in college football so I'm sure they'll slip up. Everybody is looking forward to the opening game against LSU on September 3rd. However, that won't be our only big test this season. We face Stanford in Palo Alto on November 7th and it will most likely have Division Championship implications, and you can't forget about USC and the always dangerous Civil War Game on November 26th. With the college football season inching closer, it's time for Duck fans to start getting excited.

Dominance

Detroit pitcher Justin Verlander picked up his MLB best 19th win lat night over Tampa Bay. Verlander gave up 1 run in 7 innings of work while striking out 8 batters. The Cy Young front runner has been lights out this season at 19-5 with a 2.28 ERA, and has won 8 of his last 10 decisions. Verlander has led his team to a commanding 5.5 game lead in the Central over Chicago and Cleveland. He also leads the League in strikeouts and is second in ERA behind Jared Weaver. If he can keep this up for the Tigers, watch out for them in the postseason

MORON AWARD CANDIDATES by ST

The baseball season began with a near fatal beating of a fan at a Dodgers/Giants game in LA. This past weekend it was a shooting at a Niners/Raiders game in San Fran. In that game, another victim surfaced after getting beaten in the bathroom. Some feel alcohol is a factor and perhaps it's time to limit or "dry" out stadiums during sporting events. I'm a pretty big party guy and love to have a frosty, cocktail or glass of vino but don't tailgate and really never have. Obviously the past 3 years doing the pre & post game for the Ducks it wasn't possible but I was always confused about getting so lit you could barely remember the actual game. It happened to me once, the Stanford home game back in 95. I woke Sunday morning in a bit of a fog, remembered Oregon had lost, but was fuzzy on the details. I decided I was a total idiot to spend all that cash on tickets then forget about the main reason I was there. I can't imagine it will ever happend but I'd love to see a total ban on booze at all sporting events, or a very, very high tech minimum. Maybe a ticket could be broken into 3 segments. One gets you in and the other two mean 2 drinks. Easy question. The dumb ass drunk screaming obscenities, slurring their words and driving home after enhances the game how?? That clown is in a contest with the moron yelling "get in the hole" on every golf shot and a few other as the most worthless losers who attend ballgames. We will conduct a survey on Crunchtime & Sportstalk this afternoon.
Might be some serious problems for LSU as a quartet of players involved in that bar room brawl have hired a lawyer before they tell their side of the story to the cops. The focal point is starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson. Two of the other 3 have never seen the field. Back up offensive lineman Chris Davenport saw minimal action as a redshirt last season on the defensive side of the ball. FYI. By the way, if reports are true and these rocket scientists got into a fight because they were blocking a parking lot exit and someone beeped their horn, then they're in the mix for biggest moron of the week.

Off the Field Issues, by Casey Mitchell

The U

I'm sure by now all of you have heard about the recent allegations surrounding the Miami Hurricane football program. Former Miami booster, Nevin Shapiro, who is now serving 20 years in prison claims he treated over 72 players to prostitutes, cars, money and other gifts from 2002 to 2010. Worst case scenario would be the death penalty. The only occasion the NCAA has given out a death penalty was to the SMU program. I don't think the punishment will be that harsh because the NCAA told SMU to stop giving players money, and what do ya know? They kept paying the players. Another big reason why this is such an issue is because they went through 5 coaches in the span of the reported improper benefits. The NCAA has said that all of the punishments have been laid out on the table, and Miami could receive any punishment possible. I don't think this problem will be going away any time soon.

Eligible

We could see Terrelle Pryor playing for another team in a matter of days. The NFL declared Pryor eligible for the Supplemental Draft, but he must sit the first five regular season games. The Draft was originally scheduled for the 17th but it will now take place on August 22nd. Pryor can play in the Preseason as soon as he is drafted and signs with his new team. One thing I'm sure that has Terrelle Pryor thinking of is that a QB hasn't been taken in a Supplemental Draft since 1992. But with all of the hype surrounding this decision by the NFL, I think he will be drafted. Pryor was suspended by the NCAA for accepting improper benefits, but compared to this Hurricane scandal, what Pryor did was just a dot on the radar screen

MIAMI MIGHT BE "NEXT ONE" by ST

Let's take a trip back in time. Elementary school. It's getting close to Christmas or summer break, the class is getting restless and the teacher's patience is severely tested. Finally, Ms. Maschio loses it. The next one who steps out of line is going to be sorry. Ladies and gentlemen I give you Miami. The UUUUUUUU! Big time football programs have been running amok, breaking rules, thumbing their noses at the powers that be. USC got popped. Ohio State. North Carolina as well. You sense Mark Emmert and the big wigs sitting in their mahogany offices saying, "who's next"? Now they get a scandal that appears to be gift wrapped. No he said she said but documented violations that likely can't be denied. This is their chance to change the game. If the Caines don't get the death penalty, it should be close. Most of the horses have been out for a while, but that doesn't mean you don't shut the barn door to keep those left behind and send the proverbial message.
Eli Manning says he's in Tom Brady's class as far as elite quarterback. Some would spend time and effort rolling through numbers, won/loss records or various ratings. Not me. Dear Eli, NO YOUR NOT!
9 days ago I wrote there were 13 teams in the respective pennant races. It's now 12. The Cardinals have dropped out. They've allowed the Pirates to wreck their shot. The Brewers are gonna win that division. They have a 7 game lead. Their pitching will not let them collapse especially against a St. Looey team who lacks in many areas. RedBird fans can now start growing those worry lines about the fate of Albert Pujols who is a free agent when the regular season ends.

The World of Sports, by Casey Mitchell

600 Club

Last years player who was chasing 600 was Alex Rodriguez, and it was all eyes on him for a couple of weeks, but Jim Thome had very little hype surrounding his pursuit. Coming into the game on Monday Thome had 598 homers on his record but in back-to-back at bats in the 6th and 7th innings, Thome became the 8th player to reach 600 home runs, and he reminded everybody why he is still a huge threat in baseball. He propelled his team to a 9-6 victory over the division leading Tigers. This season, Thome is batting .256 with 13 home runs and 43 RBI. The Twinkies however, are 10.5 games back sitting at 14 games under .500 with only about 40 games left in the year. For fans who watched Thome get #600, it was a great night for Minnesota baseball. You have to figure that this is going to be his last season in the majors, but you never know.

QB Competition

This Preseason in already to heat up in the battle for a starting job. A lot of teams are still uncertain who their number one guy will be this September. Carolina is still evaluating Jimmy Clausen and Cam Newton. I watched the Panther game last weekend and they both had their bright spots, but Cam Newton seemed a little uneasy in the pocket and Clausen was having trouble making the right decisions. Another team that is in a tight race is the San Francisco 49ers. Head Coach Jim Harbaugh said Alex Smith is the front runner but Colin Kapernick is right on his tail. Daunte Culpepper has been working out with the team for a about a week. Since being drafted 1st overall in 2005, Alex Smith has been a disappointment but he has gone through 3 different offensive coordinators. It will be interesting to see who will be starting for who on opening week.

MID AUGUST IS A BEAUTIFUL THING by ST

Just about 40 games left in baseball's regular season, Ducks/LSU is 3 weeks from Saturday, great PGA Championship this weekend and the NFL is kicking into high gear. It's the time of the year where you feel the sports gods really love us.
I know the needle moves more with Tiger in there, but I didn't give him a 2nd thought on Saturday or Sunday as I focused on the guys who actually made it to the weekend. What more can you saw about the pressure of trying to finish a slam event late Sunday. Jason Dufner had played 15 thru 18 on Thursday thru Saturday in 3 under par with no bogeys. On Sunday he bogeyed 15, 16 and 17 before managing a par on 18 to force the playoff he'd lose to Keegan Bradley. Bradley, by the by, is the nephew of LPGA Hall of Famer Pat Bradley who won the career Grand Slam as a player. This was the kid's 1st major and now of course the knuckleheads will try to figure out when he's going to catch Jack as the greatest player ever like they did with Rory.
Usually when a story is scrolling and making the rounds, I'm all over it as I think it could surface as a topic for either Crunch Time or SportsTalk but if you heard me late Friday, I wasn't buying on the Texas A & M to the SEC. We might not be aware, but A & M/Texas is one of the great rivalries in all of sports. It's Lone Star State big. Was kind of surprised this had the legs it did. Much ado about nothing. ZZZZZZ! Enjoy your Monday.

GAMES ON by ST

I'm sure giving my web surfing talents and connectivity a workout. Right now I have the PGA on the TV, Dan Patrick on the studio monitor and 3 different internet windows open. I've actually been reviewing night one of the NFL exhibition season. I look forward to sharing what I've learned about the Arizona receiving corps, Raven's Oline, and what to make of Denver.
I heard Stephen A Smith sitting in for Colin Cowherd this morning. Could the guy have any less knowledge and still thrive in this business. Was making a point about Ryan Mallet, the back up QB to Tom Brady in New England. Said don't get too excited about his performance because once upon a time Matt Cassel stepped in for an injured Brady, played well and we haven't heard from him in years. WHAT!!! The guy was the starter for the Chiefs last season and took them to the playoffs. Smith should stick to screaming his uninformed opinion about hoops. What a joke.
As New York closer Mariano Rivera has struggled this week with 3 consecutive awful performances I've been asked what this means. Easiest question ever. He's suddenly mortal or slipping and they're dead in the water for 2011. Yanks win 2 ways. Bash you into submission with their lumber or get to Mo to shut the door in the 9th. There is no plan B. They have just 5 complete games because the starting is shaky.
It's been just 3 holes but Tiger looks like his troubles are not going away but he will for the weekend. Bunker off the tee on #1 but he makes a save. Then on #3 he's sitting mid-fairway with an 8 iron and has to make a testy 4 footer for par. He's even, but has to go low, like 66 to make the cut. It's 11:38 am right now, let's see how the prediction turns out.

Back From The City, by Casey Mitchell

Arrived back from San Francisco last night and I am proud to say the Giants have never lost on my birthday while I'm in the park. Madison Bumgarner threw 7 spectacular shutout innings and the Giant offense erupted for nine hits and six runs. The only thing that could have made it better would have been a Brian Wilson save opportunity, but hey, I'll take a 6-0 win any day of the week. While watching the game, fans also kept an eye on the out of town scoreboard. When we saw the Astros leading the D-Backs 7-1 we were pretty excited, but Arizona clawed there way back into the game and ended up winning 11-8. I guess you can never rely on Houston for helping you out. The Pirates ended up taking the series, and due to San Francisco's latest struggles they are now half a game back in the West. If the Giants want to get take a hold of this race, they need to heat up on this road trip against the Marlins, Braves and Astros. With the Middle of August here, and Preseason closer than ever, next week will be covering the upcoming NFL season and of course Duck Football right around the bend.

BELIEVE ME ON THIS ONE by ST

Just read the ESPN experts poll on the early favorites for this season's Heisman Trophy. Stanford's Andrew Luck is out front with Oklahoma QB Landry Jones a sort of close 2nd. Oregon's LeMichael James is 3rd. I'm not dismissing that trio but I didn't see Darron Thomas on the list which went 11 deep. Here this now for the 1st time. DT is going to New York as a finalist. LMJ is a magnificent college back but I don't see him duplicating last season. Kenyon Barner will have a more substantial role and with the line needing to gel, Thomas will be throwing more. If you've read in between the lines, I think Chip Kelly has said as much. DT was off the charts as a rookie and his demeanor since Auburn shows me a guy who has merely scratched the surface. When the dust settles and he is walking off the field after Oregon's Bowl game for the 2012 season, we will have to re-work the all time QB list and work from D.T. down. MARK MY WORDS!
Please read the story about the employees from Earnhardt Racing who got busted for trafficking weed. One of the guys was described as a front tire changer. Wow! That's specific and obviously he can't handle the rear. Just struck me as funny.
Great night in the big league's last night despite some misery for fellow Yankees fans. As the old catch phrase sung, "pennant fever, catch it"!

Live from the Bay, by Casey Mitchell

I'm in San Francisco for a few days celebrating my birthday, and watching a couple of Giants games. Last year when I was here, the Giants swept the hated Dodgers and that was when they were still in 3rd place and 7 games back. After a rough skid San Francisco is still leading the D-Backs by half a game in the West. Arizona has really missed their chance losing 7 of their last 12 at the same time the Giants have lost 9 of 11! I know that San Francisco's offense looks bad on paper, but trust me it's even more miserable in person. Like the program salesman at AT&T Park said, "We just need to relax and have fun..." While we're in the City, I'm going to enjoy the great weather and outstanding garlic fries, but it would be even more enjoyable if the Giants were to win today. The Pirates ended their 10 game skid last night on a beautiful day at the Park. Vogelsong gave up 5 runs in 5 innings of work and as usual, you can't win ballgames when you're putting up a goose egg on the scoreboard day in and day out. We now rely on the youngster Madison Bumgarner, and hopefully a revived Giants offense to put an end to this madness once and for all!

MLB News, by Casey Mitchell

Wild West

The two team race between the Giants and D-Backs in the NL West is really heating up. Coming into yesterday they were tied for first place, but behind Ryan Vogelsong and an awakened San Francisco offense, the Gigantes managed to salvage a game in the series, and are now alone in first place. Before yesterday. San Fran was on a 5 game skid while Arizona was 8-2 in their last 10 games. Prior to the trade deadline, the Giants made a couple of big moves to get Carlos Beltran and Orlando Cabrera. Since coming to the bay, Beltran has gone 8 for 30 with 2 RBIs in 7 games. It's a deadly back to back punch with Pablo Sandoval in the 3 hole and Beltran batting cleanup. As for Arizona, they are in for a pretty easy home stand vs. the Dodgers, Astros and Mets. This close race is sure to heat up in the dog days of August.

Fading

With everyone thinking that the Pirates had a chance to pull it off and win their division, they just can't seem to rise to the occasion. Pittsburgh has lost 6 straight and 11 of their last 13 games. They are now 7 games out after being tied for the division lead. I just don't see them catching up to a red hot Brewers club who has won 8 of their last 10 games. Unless they can go on a mad rally, this season is out of reach for the Buccos. I'm sure they enjoyed the ride while it lasted.

A Comeback?

Last years phenom, Stephen Strasburg. was expected to miss the entire 2011 season due to Tommy John surgery, but he has been working hard and is set to pitch in a Minor League outing on Sunday. This is just the first step in his Minor League assignment, but we could see Strasburg pitching in DC by late August. If he can make a comeback it would be good for the fans, the Nats, and good for baseball.

A MAGIC ANWER? by ST

When the Willie Lyles story broke, then took root and the University responded by saying they can't comment I said the most hopeful Oregon fans were leaning on the answer that would make the situation disappear without harm. Recent information courtesy of a blogger named Scott Reed of Duck Sports Authority shows Lyles may have over valued his role in the decision by Lache Seastrunk to pick the Ducks. Looks like the woman who pretty much helped raise Lache says he was not a mentor and many in the family actually thought Lyles preferred Seastrunk go to LSU or USC. This would go a long way to alleviate the worst fears around the program. The 2nd major issue is why did they pay 25-thou for info that appears to be no where in that neighborhood value wise. On today's show we will hear a nice chunk of an interview Reed did on Portland radio.
Got my Phil Steele preview magazine. This is the 10th year I've considered it's arrival the official beginning to college football season. Information is power. He loves the Ducks. Rates both of their lines higher than I did and truth be told, above what I've heard from most Oregon fans. Thinks they'll win the division and the 1st ever Pac 12 title game. Cracks me up because now Duck fans love him as opposed to some years when he perhaps didn't have the U of O footballers where some would have preferred. Fans are criminally insane! It's a beautiful thing.

Heating Up, by Casey Mitchell

Calling it Quits

After 13 seasons and 7 Pro Bowl selections, Randy Moss decided to retire on Monday morning. During his career Moss played for four different teams (Vikings, Raiders, Patriots and the Titans). His 153 touchdowns is tied with Terelle Owens for the second most all-time, behind only the great Jerry Rice. He also holds the second most 100-yard games with 64. Moss, in his prime, could arguably be the best deep threat to ever play the game. His career consisted of many ups and downs, like his two down years in '05 and '06, but won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in '07 with New England. Randy Moss tried very hard this offseason as a free-agent to prove all of his "doubters" wrong, but apparently the physical toll was just to much to handle. He was a human highlight-reel, but I hope we're not in for another Brett Favre story.

Out for the Year

Red Sox pitcher Clay Bucholz could be out for the season with a fracture in his lower back, the team reported to ESPN on Monday night. He was moved from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL. Bucholz has done good for the Sox this year, posting a 6-3 record with a 3.48 ERA. So far this season, the Red Sox are lighting it up with an AL leading 66-41 record, and a team batting average of .281 which leads the majors. Let's see if they can continue their hot streak into this August.

Dream Team?

The Philadelphia Eagles have been very busy during this free-agent signing period, and have recently been called "This decades Dream Team." They've picked up Nnamdi Asomugha, Vince Young, Cullen Jenkins and more. To get into their full force, they are going to have to get their star receiver, DeSean Jackson, to end his holdout for a more pricey contract. It is expected to end soon because the Eagles are set to fine him $30,000 for every day he does not participate in. They will need every weapon they can get if they are going to start the dynasty everyone is expecting them to have.